Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower

Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower At Night

Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower

The Clock Tower is located on the southern shore of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It is the only remnant of the original site of the former Kowloon Station on the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Officially named Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower, it is usually referred to as the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower because of its location. The Clock Tower is 44-metres (144.4-feet) tall with an additional 7-metre (almost 23-feet) lightning rod. It is constructed of red brick and granite.

The plan of Kowloon-Canton Railway was realized in 1904 with its terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Kowloon-Canton Railway was inaugurated on October 1, 1910; however, construction of the station did not begin until 1913. Mainly due to the advent of World War I, the materials required for the construction could not be shipped on time, and construction was halted for some time. Part of the station including the Clock Tower was completed in 1915, and the whole station March 28, 1916.

The Clock Tower reused the clock from the demolished clock tower on Peddler Street, a major thoroughfare in the heart of Hong Kong’s Central District. However, only one side had a clock, and it was not until 1920 that the other three clock faces were installed. They began operation in the afternoon of March 22, 1921 and have run ever since except during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II.

Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower

In 1975, Kowloon Station was moved to the present-day Hung Hom Station. The building of the station was demolished in 1977 despite the protest and petitioning from the Heritage Society and other pressure groups. However, as a compromise it was decided that the Clock Tower was to be preserved.

The tower has been listed as a “declared monument” in Hong Kong since 1990. Declared monuments of Hong Kong are places, structures or buildings legally declared to be “protected”. Currently, there are 101 declared monuments in Hong Kong.

Nicely done Mark. I’ve been here and have a similar shot. This is the tower from a Jackie Chan movie where he does some amazing stunt work hanging from the clock face. Police Story I think?Marc Collins recently posted..Irish Leaf